Wang Dang Doodle-> Jack Straw, They Love Each Other, Mama Tried-> Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Minglewood Blues, Big Railroad Blues, Looks Like Rain-> Deal Help On The Way-> Slipknot!-> Franklin's Tower, Estimated Prophet-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> Throwing Stones-> Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad-> Black Peter-> Sugar Magnolia, E: It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Notes
SBD> cassette master> (cass?)> DAT> CDR; via anonymous benefactor
Reviewer:Jim Powell
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April 17, 2023 (edited)
Subject:
the only show in town
I met a Deadhead a few weeks ago whose first show was Boise. He was amazed when I knew the show and moreso when I told him it was famous among tapers almost as soon as played. Someone writing below says that it isn't the greatest show of the year, that Red Rocks 9/6/83 and Santa Fe Downs 9/11/83 are both better. And I agree, in the abstract, but in the real world, when I'm listening to Boise 9/2/83 my ears are sated, completely happy. Boise was good enough to make my new friend a Deadhead for 40 years and counting. And that's true of a very high proportion of Dead shows in any given year -- they're entirely elevating, they do the trick as fine as it needs doing. And among the other shows, there are very few real klunkers. Most of the time, whether or not it was top ten, any given Dead show did the trick. "They're not the best at what they do. They're the only ones at what they do," as Bill Graham said. "On any given night, the best rock and roll band in the world." People rag on 1983 but I saw six shows and loved every one, and over the next several years collected cassettes of the whole year and and got to know them pretty well. Of its 66 shows I count at least fifteen indispensable: Las Vegas 3/26, Philly Spectrum 4/26, Greek 5/13, 5/14, 5/15, Saratoga 6/18, Madison 6/24, Frost 8/21, Boise 9/2, Red Rocks 9/6, Santa Fe Downs 9/12, Madison Square Garden 10/12, Worcester 10/21, Marin Civic 10/31, SF Civic 12/27 & 12/28. Probably my top four would be Greek 5/13, Red Rocks 9/6, Marin Civic 10/31 and SF Civic 12/28. Only three of the six shows I saw are on this list, but none of the others left me other than delighted, then or now. Being a picky Deadhead is part of the fun, but so is remembering the unique stellar high average standard they achieved, show by show, night after night. People pick on Jerry in the early 80s because some nights he sounds pretty toasty, but let's not forget there was NOBODY in his league as an inventor on his instrument, show by show, first to last, after Hendrix left the planet. Jerry on a bad night was still in a league of his own. And the number and depth of bad nights is grossly exaggerated.
Reviewer:hitcher1
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January 18, 2021 Subject:
A stellar memory, not my first rodeo.
The band's first and last show in Boise and a fantastic show it was. Second row seats with friends including Idaho's biggest Deadheads Bruce and Esther. Carole Evers was there, too iirc. Tripping balls after the show, my friend Kwiz and I went to the Boise Co-op were I worked, stocked shelves ate cashew nuts, had a freakin ball.
Reviewer:SittinPlushRoyalFlush617
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September 2, 2020 Subject:
Just a damn good one...
This is a really great show - not sure there is anything that is the best ever or what not, but everything is played really well. Jerry's lead is crisp, Phil is just out of his mind funky. Also - from a personal note, I find this '82-'83 era's Minglewood to just be totally rocking.
Reviewer:Happyhippy2000
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February 15, 2020 Subject:
The Show That Made Me Love The Grateful Dead
I had just seen my first show at the Boston Garden in 1982 & while I enjoyed it, It basically was just another concert that I was attending. Flash forward to September 1983 and I am stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Mountain Home Idaho. My cousin who lives in Portland Oregon hitchhiked down to meet me at the Boise State Pavillion. We met his buddy out in the parking lot who was named Cosmic Charlie and ate some of his fantastic acid. A few hours later I totally got it! The music that is! I began to understand why people loved it so much and even though I had listened to quite a few bootleg tapes, now it all rang true to me. The music was fantastic, and the place was indeed more than half empty. An earlier reviewer mentioned this as well...I went on to see another 54 Grateful Dead shows and can’t recall ever seeing another show by them that was not sold out. (Or at least that empty). This was also the only show the Grateful Dead ever played in Idaho and I feel honored that I was there. As another reviewer mentioned, Check out Santa Fe from that same tour as it was equally phenomenal and featured a Help>Slip>Franklin as well. They had just started playing that again for the first time in years. This was the show that made me love the Grateful Dead.
Reviewer:Joel from Seaford, New York
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February 2, 2020 (edited)
Subject:
Listened to this tape way back when.
My friend had a tape of this show. We listened to it tons of times in 1984. Always got a kick out of Phil's introduction "Citizens of Boise". Excellent show.
Reviewer:kee-zee
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August 21, 2013 (edited)
Subject:
Sheriff couldn't catch me..but his little girl sure wish she would
Very nice sound here and mix..Phil is prominent!! This show is electric from the get go with a nice Wang Dang Doodle..Bobby is barking it out with Brent giving the distinct 83' keys lay down!! Solid on through to the end..When the Band is on..you feel it through your whole body and you just SMILE..so please..Smile,Smile,Smile>GIVE IT A WHIRL>Forever Grateful>Forever Dead!!!
Reviewer:BIG_R
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July 14, 2010 Subject:
9-2-83
Good show. Nice sound quality.
Reviewer:BamaDead
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May 7, 2009 Subject:
A little secret
I have a hard time explaining the joy I get from listening to the Dead to others who ask me what I get from them. It seems like when you were a child and you have a little secret that others don't know, you grin and enjoy that little something that you have over them, but wishing they had it to. This Boise deal makes me think that way.
Reviewer:thebone
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January 24, 2009 Subject:
Excellent Show
This is an exceptional show as noted by the previous rewiewers. Great renditions throughout, with favorites for me including Jack Straw, Minglewood, Deal, Eyes>Jam and Black Peter. This one must have been really awesome to attend in person. Thanks for the great upload!
Reviewer:John Bouffard
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January 22, 2009 Subject:
Citizens of Boise
submit or perish you are a conquered people. All I have to say is wow! This has to be one of the best shows of the 80's!Its all good! Wang Dang Doodle->Jack Straw is just fantastic. Big Railroad is one of their best. .
Reviewer:rockinrob
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May 17, 2007 Subject:
Very Good Show!
This seems like a hidden gem to me you don't hear allot about '83, but this recording has excellent sound, tight playing, enjoyable setlist, they really sound like they were having fun. Jerry is right on top of it through the whole show (imho). If you haven't take the time, it's a fun listen. ;>
Reviewer:Liamfinnegan
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June 21, 2006 Subject:
beautiful sounding board from anonymous? Phil?
SOunds so goo- everything clear as a bell- listen closely to the tail end of slipknot- right before the franklins- listen to the chords Bobby is playing- they will become Victim or The Crime's opening chords- listen- you tell me
Reviewer:majordomo
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June 17, 2006 Subject:
wild about boise
citizens of boise--submit. real fine board-always wanted to hear something other than my audience. this is my under the radar for 1983. yep, big rr kills.wang dang is good and greasy. "seedanrun"--get past the vocal miscues on help. slipknot! captures the dead's complex language beautifully. good fills, call and response, weir shines but no question jerry is the leader of the band. ramble on rose baby! a real WORKING band on a pretty good night. franklins has good energy sort of like that rfk 91 view from the vault. bonus. wish the pre-drums had evolved a little more here-- sort of like the post-terrapin pre-drums lesh/hornsby thing? see dicks msg 91? space/jam doesn't quite arrive at the spanish jam but miles/gil evans still sort of hover over the proceedings. early 80's t. stones were a bit angrier than the more hopeful tune it evolved into. if i was angry during the reagan years, i'm completely pissed NOW. gdtrfb indeed.
Reviewer:swedishhead
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November 21, 2005 Subject:
Check 9.10.83
The music and sound quality here are great. BRBlues has been getting some serious kudos here - as has the whole show. I'm excited to check the rest of the show out - one suggestion - for those that love this show - check out 9.10.83 Santa Fe Downs out - if you like the BRBlues here, you might find a spasm of joy in the one just down the street. I highly suggest the first set in particular for 9.10...
Reviewer:capn doubledose
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September 22, 2005 (edited)
Subject:
Got this within a day or two of this show
Crystal 1st gen board and loved the first set and Est>Eyes and I do like the GTRFB>spectacular Black Peter>Sugar Mag as well. I was too harsh in my first review and changed it. SOLID 4.
Reviewer:seedanrun
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August 19, 2005 (edited)
Subject:
decent, but certainly not great
This is a pretty solid show from a not-so-great year. Jerry's voice is weak, and too many songs just seem perfunctory. The set list looks great, and the sound quality is pretty good, too. BUT -- Help > Slip > Frank just doesn't do it when Jer can't remember the words. 9/6 and 9/11 are both better shows from this tour, though neither is flawless.
Reviewer:boobychew
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July 5, 2005 (edited)
Subject:
good sound
After a quick run thru of some of the first set, my call on SOUND is a 5. Rockin show from what I have previewed so far, jerry is screaching it a bit...but sound is perfect, levels are very nice, mix is right on, not much hiss. A keeper. O, and BigRxR Blues....wooooooo! Can you say lightning quick and rockin?
Reviewer:birdsgosouth
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April 7, 2005 Subject:
couple shots o whiskey
Ah, hyperbole.... Every third show on this site seems to be called the best Dead show ever by someone. This night is definitely not the best show ever. 1983 is definitely not the best year ever. This night in Boise was a fantastic tight Dead show, perhaps one of the best of the year, and there are real nice AUD and SBD versions to choose from; I like the AUD myself. Lots of 80's boards have Jerry a little low in the mix - some worse than others, this 9/2/83 one's not too bad -
Reviewer:sarraqum
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December 10, 2004 Subject:
A definite must-have.
Right from the first set this show shines. Every song has that something that stands out, be it a great exchange between Jerry and Brent on Big River, or beefed up and funky They Love Each Other. But its the second and third sets that make this one such a pleasure to listen to. Slipknot>Franklin's Tower>Estimated Prophet>Eyes Of The World...........hell yeah! Throwing Stones, Going Down The Road, Black Peter, all are exceptional. And, of course Sugar Magnolia just polishes this jewel-created show off like you know it would. Grateful Dead are most definately on form and are a force not to be meddled with!
Reviewer:utopian
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July 15, 2004 (edited)
Subject:
Citizens of Boise, SUBMIT for you are a Conquered People
Phil sets the mood wih the above into quote. Bombs dropped all over the show, which smokes through and through. Jerry plays some of the most unique leads of the early 80's. I can't get enough of the first set.. Wang Dang Doodle opener, Jack straw is extra nice, and the Tleo is funky and sweet. The Highlights of the show is Minglewood and Big RXR Blues which sail with some hot Jerry Solos. Search out the Beyer FOB audience version over the sbd, lots more bottom end. must have show!
Reviewer:sammann
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July 15, 2004 Subject:
This show is smokin!
Even though my tour buddy got roughed up and thrown out by state troopers during the middle of the first set, I had a great time in Boise. (He tossed his stash into the crowd, so luckily didn't end up in jail. After the show we met the guy who got hit in the head with the stash, and he returned what was left.)